Return to the mountains

The trailhead is at about 4000 feet elevation and we climbed about 1700 feet that day in only 4.5 miles.

Silver Falls Mothers Day

Tara and I went camping on Sunday for Mother’s Day in Silver Falls State Park. We’ve been camping on Mother’s Day, rain or shine, since the kid was in middle school. This year it was time to find a new place. Over the years I have had Silver Falls recommended for a hike because of […]

Colchuck Lake

Women outnumbered the men far and away.

Lake Stuart

I purchased overnight camping passes for the Lake Stuart Zone in the Enchantments area of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness of Washington state. It’s due east of Seattle and north of Mt. Rainier. It takes me 4 1/2 hours just to get to the trailhead, but I can’t help myself: it is so beautiful there. I’ve […]

On a trail again

On the trail is where I find my bliss.

Rocks and Rain, but no Goats

Second big hike in a row with no mountain goat sightings. Do you think it’s me? I hiked into the Goat Rocks Wilderness for three days and two nights with my boyfriend. Our timing was uncanny, and we were up there during the only three rainy days in between sunny weeks either side. Though I […]

Traditional Mother’s Day

Our traditional Mother’s Day is not likely similar to yours. Nonetheless, aren’t traditions sometimes the whole reason we look forward to a holiday? For Tara and me, it’s camping. It all started because I am the outdoorsy one and Tara less so. And when the kid was little, I just laid down the law and […]

Too Many Cairns. Not enough goats.

It was blissful, and my disappointment and frustration from the goatlessness of it all eventually faded away.

Exploring Snow Lakes

The chipmunks and whiskey jacks mounted a joint attack force and my resistance was futile.

High in the mountains

Though marijuana use is now legal in both Oregon and Washington… this is the high I’m after.